As well as music, Common has worked as an actor, on films such as 'Smokin' Aces' (as Sir Ivy) 'American Gangster' (as Turner Lucas), 'Wanted', and 'John Wick: Chapter 2'. He may also be seen in cameo roles in films such as 'Brown Sugar'.
His debut was the 1992 album Can I Borrow A Dollar, but he achieved little critical or commercial success until 1994's Resurrection, an instant classic. He produced several more albums, notably Like Water For Chocolate and the highly experimental Electric Circus, before releasing the Kanye West and J Dilla-produced Be in 2005, which was his first album to receive widespread mainstream appeal and radio playtime.
Common is considered a "cred" artist, which has lead him to collaborations with the likes of De La Soul, Jadakiss, T.I, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Kanye West, Lily Allen, Erykah Badu, and Fort Minor.
The 2007 album Finding Forever was produced mainly by long-time collaborator, Kanye West. Common released his eighth album Universal Mind Control in 2008, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album but lost to the Eminem album Relapse. He released his ninth album The Dreamer/The Believer in 2011. Nobody's Smiling, his tenth album, was released in 2014. The concept of the album was inspired by his troubled hometown of Chicago.
Lovin' I Lost
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember
I remember she sit there with her thickness
Never played a game but I heard about them sisters
A wise mister said love is gunna get ya
But that ain't what I read in the scriptures, Y'all eat with us
It was hard for me to take down the benches
I could be someone you could talk to, each and every day
But you were 'bout to marry, be on your merry way
I'm singing through the pain like I was Mary J
Cause we break up to make up like Mary Kay
Rumors leaving tumors on my heart now
We fell in love huh just to fall apart now
I get your calls and I try to disregard now
What was easy for us now is hard now
Huh? Who do it better, we used to move together
Now we not together, is this our new forever?
I remember
I remember
Hell nah, I'm waiting on your call
Told you be I'll be back, had to break down some walls
Issues that I had, some say it comes from not seeing my dad, keep moving on
Hard for me to stay away and stay in touch
Girl, my heart is broke and I needa crutch
Thought I was okay but nights that I stayed up
Ass got me layed up, girl I never gave up
On you and us, I tried to take it day by day, and whew its tough
I know your young and you gotta live your life ma
I thought it was the right time for me to wife ya
I must confess, I miss the days of you laying on my chest
So confusing losing love, I'm saying god bless
Who do it better, we used to move together
Now we not together, is this our new forever?
I remember
I remember
The song "Lovin' I Lost" by Common is a reflection on a past relationship that has ended badly. The first verse opens with Common recalling the physical attractiveness of his ex-partner, noting that she wasn't interested in playing games like her sisters. However, he also remembers being warned about the risks of love by a 'wise mister', but says that he didn't find this in any scriptures. The second half of the verse sees Common grappling with his feelings for his ex, admitting that he called her sister and that he could be someone she could talk to every day, but now she's about to get married and he'll have to move on. He compares his emotional pain to that of Mary J Blige, and acknowledges the rumours that have left him feeling hurt.
The second verse sees Common begging for his ex-girlfriend to call him back. He says that he's been working to overcome his personal issues because he knows that they were a problem in their relationship, but he's struggling to manage without her. He admits that he's miserable and needs some kind of support to help him cope. While he thinks that it's important for her to live her own life and make her own choices, he misses their togetherness and the comfort of lying together. Nonetheless, he recognises that they're not together anymore and wonders if this separation is permanent.
The song as a whole is a melancholy reflection on lost love and the complexities that surround it. Common's thoughtful lyrics capture the raw emotions of a relationship that has ended unexpectedly, and his comparison to Mary J Blige adds to the feeling of sadness and despair. It's evident that he's keen to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend, but he knows that it may not be possible. Overall, the song evokes a sense of longing and regret, but Common's poignant delivery keeps it from being too sombre.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember she sit there with her thickness
I remember seeing her, admiring her body size
Never played a game but I heard about them sisters
She is not a player, but I had heard rumors about her similar sisters
A wise mister said love is gunna get ya
Someone told me love will harm me
But that ain't what I read in the scriptures, Y'all eat with us
Contrary to that, I believe in the Bible, where we are all equal
It was hard for me to take down the benches
It was difficult for me to let go of old habits and ways of thinking
I was tripping, I even called her sister
I was acting crazy and even contacted her sister about our relationship
I could be someone you could talk to, each and every day
I wanted to be someone she could rely on and talk to every day
But you were 'bout to marry, be on your merry way
She was about to get married and start a new life without me
I'm singing through the pain like I was Mary J
I'm using music to cope with the emotional pain, like Mary J. Blige would
Cause we break up to make up like Mary Kay
Our relationship was like a cycle of breaking up and getting back together, similar to Mary Kay makeup
Rumors leaving tumors on my heart now
The rumors and gossip about our relationship are causing me emotional pain
We fell in love huh just to fall apart now
We were in love, but now we have fallen apart
I get your calls and I try to disregard now
When you call me, I try to ignore it now
What was easy for us now is hard now
Our relationship, which was once easy, is now difficult
Huh? Who do it better, we used to move together
We used to be good together, but now I wonder if someone else can do it better
Hell nah, I'm waiting on your call
No, I'm not waiting for your call anymore
Told you be I'll be back, had to break down some walls
I promised to come back to you, but I had to overcome some obstacles first
Issues that I had, some say it comes from not seeing my dad, keep moving on
I have personal issues, which some believe stem from not having a father figure, but I must keep pushing forward
Hard for me to stay away and stay in touch
It's difficult for me to distance myself but still stay connected to you
Girl, my heart is broke and I needa crutch
My heart is broken and I need something to lean on for support
Thought I was okay but nights that I stayed up
I thought I was okay, but I have trouble sleeping at night
Ass got me layed up, girl I never gave up
I'm feeling down and defeated, but I never gave up trying with you
On you and us, I tried to take it day by day, and whew its tough
I tried taking our relationship one day at a time, but it's been incredibly difficult
I know your young and you gotta live your life ma
I understand that you're young and need to live your own life
I thought it was the right time for me to wife ya
I thought it was the right time to commit to you and marry you
I must confess, I miss the days of you laying on my chest
I have to admit that I miss the intimate moments we shared
So confusing losing love, I'm saying god bless
Losing love is incredibly confusing, but I must move on and wish you well
Who do it better, we used to move together
I wonder if there's someone out there who can love me better than you did
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LONNIE RASHID LYNN, JET SAMPLE, ERNEST WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind